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Chairman Of Ohio's Cardinal Health Apologizes To Congress In Opioid Crisis Testimony

Cardinal Health Chairman George Barrett (left). (C-SPAN)

by Steve Brown, WOSU

The chairman of Central Ohio-based Cardinal Health George Barrett apologized to members of Congress today, while testifying about the opioid crisis. 

In a scene bringing back images of Big Tobacco CEOs taking oath, Barrett and four other drug company leaders offering differing takes on how they sent millions of painkiller pills into parts of West Virginia.

Barrett address two pharmacies that prosecutors call pill mills.

“With the benefit of hindsight, I wish we had moved faster and asked a different set of questions. I’m deeply sorry that we did not.”

But when repeatedly asked if Cardinal’s actions contributed to the opioid epidemic, Barrett told the House subcommittee: “No sir, I do not believe that we contributed to the opioid crisis.”

Moments later, the board chair of Springboro-based drug distributor Miami-Luken told members that his company DID contribute to the opioid crisis.

Cardinal faces more than 300 lawsuits from state and local governments for how it distributed pain pills.